Not everybody complains about Metro 9 extension

/ Yonhap

By Lee Jihye

Commuters packed the Metro 9 subway carriages during rush hours on Monday, taking advantage of the newly extended line stretching across the city to southeastern Seoul. The line opened on Saturday.

Metro 9, which French multinational company Veolia Transport operates, has been extended by five stops from Sinnonhyeon Station near Gangnam to Sports Complex Station near Jamsil ㅡ passing various business, transport and residential hubs.

Passengers had mixed opinions about the service.

“Why don’t they increase the number of carriages instead of extending more lines?” said a man surnamed Kang, 30. “I can’t breathe in here, and I’m pretty sure others can’t either."

He said the extension had opened a “hell gate” for most passengers.

Metro 9 trains run every 10 minutes on average, with more than 110 express services throughout the day.

Some people were concerned about safety.

“It’s really convenient, but I can’t shake off the thought of the sinkholes that were all over the news when they started building the additional stations,” said a woman surnamed Yang, 24, as she boarded a train at Sports Complex Station.

“Chances are, residents around the Jamsil area like me may like it, but people who get on at the older stations would hate it because the subway is already a hellhole anyway.”

Seoul city pledged to send 50 security officers to control the crowds, amid heightened concerns over the increased congestion.

Officials expect the number of passengers to rise 240 percent from the normal rate during rush hour. The current average is 158 passengers per carriage.

"The crowd is ridiculous, but with the extension, at least I don’t have to worry about transfer stops, and walking to catch another subway line,” said a man surnamed Park, 35. He said he planned to use the line more frequently.

"I guess being squeezed in the middle of almost half the city’s population is a risk I’ll have to take,” he said.

Seoul is also providing an alternative to ease the bustling morning commute ㅡ a temporary free bus service from Gayang Station, west of Yeouido. The bus will stop at Gimpo Airport Station, Gayang Station, and Yeomchang Station.

"I had no idea about the free shuttle buses, but it doesn’t matter anyway because it’s not going to get any better ㅡ the rides will take longer than being stuffed into this clown carriage,” said Lee, 27.

“I might as well get to work on time.”

But some passengers were keen to take advantage of the shortened trip to the airport ㅡ a mere 38 minutes to Gimpo Airport Station from Sports Complex Station.

“It’s difficult to hold on to a suitcase in this crowd, but I know it’s only for 38 minutes at a really cheap price,” said a woman surnamed Hwang, 40, who will travel to Beijing through Gimpo Airport.

“I can handle this ‘hell’ subway,” she said.